I feel like we're quickly headed to two years of mediocrity

[Moranis]

They did it with young players, if KG/PP both decline noticably we could have a similar thing with older vets though.

Yeah, there's a possibility that this could blow up in our faces.

The difference is that with the Pistons, there was no realistic chance of their plan working out.  Iverson, Gordon, and Charlie V?  Seriously?

The big difference is that it looks like we'll have money tied up only 2 years right now. The Pistons tied up their cap for 5 years...

True, but 2013 looks like it is going to be a very strong free agent market and with the new sign and trade provisions going into effect that summer, the only real way for teams to sign top level free agents is to have cap space.  Boston has effectively removed itself from that free agent class, and that is what worries me.

2012 looked like a banner FA clas and that didn't pan out.

We set up our window of cap space and only one player worth it ended up being available, you can't keep rolling cap space forward when you're a playoff team.

When you are a very old playoff team, sure you can.  You reassess after every season and see how your old players held up and if they worth bringing back or it is worth going into a different direction. 

[Rondo2287]

I just don't get why Boston eliminated the future cap space.  Seems silly and unnecessary.  

If KG wasn't happy with a one year deal then what else was were the C's to do?

I'd have let him walk.  If 1 year for big money wasn't enough for him, then so be it.  I just don't see why the team had to hamstring itself going forward to bring back a team, that has very little hope of beating Miami (as evidenced by the last two eliminations to Miami who is much younger). 

I really don't think that we are hamstrung though.  10 million a year for KG isnt a bad deal even for 3 years.  Would you have rathered 10 mill a year for KG or 8.3 mill per year for Asik?

I would have rather had neither on the books going into the 2013-14 season.  Sign KG to a 1 yr contract, I'd even give him more dollars for that one year to make him happy, and then let him retire after the season rather than significantly overpay in the future and have him eliminate Boston's shot at signing any significant free agents in the summer of 2013.  

Ainge has now done exactly what he said he wasn't going to do.  He has hung on to long to old veteran stars and is overpaying to do it.  

I disagree, first of all Boston has NEVER signed a significant free agent from another team.  Second, every year looks like there will be some significant free agents out there but by the time free agency rolls around that pool has dwindled due to resignings and trades.

[Moranis]

I just don't get why Boston eliminated the future cap space.  Seems silly and unnecessary.  

If KG wasn't happy with a one year deal then what else was were the C's to do?

I'd have let him walk.  If 1 year for big money wasn't enough for him, then so be it.  I just don't see why the team had to hamstring itself going forward to bring back a team, that has very little hope of beating Miami (as evidenced by the last two eliminations to Miami who is much younger). 

Here's the key, I don't think Ainger/Doc/etc think the team has very little hope.

If they did they'd probably start rebuilding.

I agree.  Danny said many times on WEEI that this years team did overachieve.  But he also brings up Green and Wilcox as the key reasons why he calls it an overachievement.  With Green and Wilcox Danny would have expected this team to make the finals IMO

Then why did he trade Allen and try to trade Pierce at the deadline.  I think that is Danny undergoing some revisionist history to support the moves he is making. 

[Moranis]

I just don't get why Boston eliminated the future cap space.  Seems silly and unnecessary.  

If KG wasn't happy with a one year deal then what else was were the C's to do?

I'd have let him walk.  If 1 year for big money wasn't enough for him, then so be it.  I just don't see why the team had to hamstring itself going forward to bring back a team, that has very little hope of beating Miami (as evidenced by the last two eliminations to Miami who is much younger). 

I really don't think that we are hamstrung though.  10 million a year for KG isnt a bad deal even for 3 years.  Would you have rathered 10 mill a year for KG or 8.3 mill per year for Asik?

I would have rather had neither on the books going into the 2013-14 season.  Sign KG to a 1 yr contract, I'd even give him more dollars for that one year to make him happy, and then let him retire after the season rather than significantly overpay in the future and have him eliminate Boston's shot at signing any significant free agents in the summer of 2013.  

Ainge has now done exactly what he said he wasn't going to do.  He has hung on to long to old veteran stars and is overpaying to do it.  

I disagree, first of all Boston has NEVER signed a significant free agent from another team.  Second, every year looks like there will be some significant free agents out there but by the time free agency rolls around that pool has dwindled due to resignings and trades.

In the free agent era, Boston has never had significant cap space to sign a significant free agent. 

[Fafnir]

They did it with young players, if KG/PP both decline noticably we could have a similar thing with older vets though.

Yeah, there's a possibility that this could blow up in our faces.

The difference is that with the Pistons, there was no realistic chance of their plan working out.  Iverson, Gordon, and Charlie V?  Seriously?

The big difference is that it looks like we'll have money tied up only 2 years right now. The Pistons tied up their cap for 5 years...

True, but 2013 looks like it is going to be a very strong free agent market and with the new sign and trade provisions going into effect that summer, the only real way for teams to sign top level free agents is to have cap space.  Boston has effectively removed itself from that free agent class, and that is what worries me.

2012 looked like a banner FA clas and that didn't pan out.

We set up our window of cap space and only one player worth it ended up being available, you can't keep rolling cap space forward when you're a playoff team.

When you are a very old playoff team, sure you can.  You reassess after every season and see how your old players held up and if they worth bringing back or it is worth going into a different direction. 

Not if your key players are FAs and aren't willing to do one year deals.

[Roy H.]

I disagree, first of all Boston has NEVER signed a significant free agent from another team.  

Who you callin' insignificant?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTT260kARwo

[Rondo2287]

I just don't get why Boston eliminated the future cap space.  Seems silly and unnecessary.  

If KG wasn't happy with a one year deal then what else was were the C's to do?

I'd have let him walk.  If 1 year for big money wasn't enough for him, then so be it.  I just don't see why the team had to hamstring itself going forward to bring back a team, that has very little hope of beating Miami (as evidenced by the last two eliminations to Miami who is much younger). 

Here's the key, I don't think Ainger/Doc/etc think the team has very little hope.

If they did they'd probably start rebuilding.

I agree.  Danny said many times on WEEI that this years team did overachieve.  But he also brings up Green and Wilcox as the key reasons why he calls it an overachievement.  With Green and Wilcox Danny would have expected this team to make the finals IMO

Then why did he trade Allen and try to trade Pierce at the deadline.  I think that is Danny undergoing some revisionist history to support the moves he is making. 

He tried to trade them at the deadline because there was no guarantee Green or KG would be back this year, now it looks like they both will be. 

[bfrombleacher]

They did it with young players, if KG/PP both decline noticably we could have a similar thing with older vets though.

Yeah, there's a possibility that this could blow up in our faces.

The difference is that with the Pistons, there was no realistic chance of their plan working out.  Iverson, Gordon, and Charlie V?  Seriously?

The big difference is that it looks like we'll have money tied up only 2 years right now. The Pistons tied up their cap for 5 years...

True, but 2013 looks like it is going to be a very strong free agent market and with the new sign and trade provisions going into effect that summer, the only real way for teams to sign top level free agents is to have cap space.  Boston has effectively removed itself from that free agent class, and that is what worries me.

Am I right in saying Josh Smith and Bynum are the only real big names we're looking for in that free agency? And Josh Smith is the one we're truly going to have a shot at without gutting the team?

Who else have I overlooked (of course, apart from Chris Paul to replace Rondo. But I'm guessing he's going to stay after all that ruckus)?

[Fafnir]

He tried to trade them at the deadline because there was no guarantee Green or KG would be back this year, now it looks like they both will be. 

Well that and we were playing awful basketball and looked to need a change.

[Fafnir]

They did it with young players, if KG/PP both decline noticably we could have a similar thing with older vets though.

Yeah, there's a possibility that this could blow up in our faces.

The difference is that with the Pistons, there was no realistic chance of their plan working out.  Iverson, Gordon, and Charlie V?  Seriously?

The big difference is that it looks like we'll have money tied up only 2 years right now. The Pistons tied up their cap for 5 years...

True, but 2013 looks like it is going to be a very strong free agent market and with the new sign and trade provisions going into effect that summer, the only real way for teams to sign top level free agents is to have cap space.  Boston has effectively removed itself from that free agent class, and that is what worries me.

Am I right in saying Josh Smith and Bynum are the only real big names we're looking for in that free agency? And Josh Smith is the one we're truly going to have a shot at without gutting the team?

Who else have I overlooked (of course, apart from Chris Paul to replace Rondo. But I'm guessing he's going to stay after all that ruckus)?

Howard as well, but he'll likely be traded somewhere he's willing to sign an extension.

[mctyson]

If Danny had any other serious viable options to turn us into a contending team for another 5 years, he would have pulled the trigger.

 

Danny did "pull the trigger", and the Celtics are looking like a contending team for the next 5 years.

Did you miss the part where we drafted the 6th ranked prospect in the draft at 21, without trading away both first rounders?

I am in complete agreement with you.  

My point is that there is some reaction to the resigning of KG (not the draft picks) that just doesn't add up.  I don't see how our .700 winning pct. after the all-star break is evidence of future mediocrity.

[Jeff]

if this is the death rattle, that's fine with me, I'm along for the ride

[Rondo2287]

He tried to trade them at the deadline because there was no guarantee Green or KG would be back this year, now it looks like they both will be. 

Well that and we were playing awful basketball and looked to need a change.

True dat

[mctyson]

I would have rather had neither on the books going into the 2013-14 season.  Sign KG to a 1 yr contract, I'd even give him more dollars for that one year to make him happy, and then let him retire after the season rather than significantly overpay in the future and have him eliminate Boston's shot at signing any significant free agents in the summer of 2013.  

Ainge has now done exactly what he said he wasn't going to do.  He has hung on to long to old veteran stars and is overpaying to do it.

Before you criticize what Ainge did, you need to lay out exactly what you would have done differently, why the players involved would have accepted your offers, and how this translates to a championship contending team.

You need to explain why saving cap space will automatically result in a championship caliber player signing with the Celtics.

You need to state why KG will retire after your theoretical 1 year deal with more money, but why he won't retire after 1 year, or 2 years, of his current deal.

Ainge has also said he is not going to make a move simply just to make a move.  He has also said that the best free agents available in 2012 we are own players.  

And most importantly, you need to tell me how giving KG a 50% paycut immediately after his best season with the Celtics since 2008 is somehow "overpaying" for him.

[Celtics18]

He tried to trade them at the deadline because there was no guarantee Green or KG would be back this year, now it looks like they both will be. 

Well that and we were playing awful basketball and looked to need a change.

That's a great point.  Even though everybody is a half a year older, our immediate future looks considerably brighter right now than it did at last year's trade deadline based on how this team came together after the all-star break.

Early in the season, our top guns looked old and on their last legs.  As it turns out, they were just recovering from a draining off-season where it looked like there might be no basketball on the horizon.